Simple Tips to Avoid "Comfort Eating" As a Relief From Stress

Turning to food as a way of alleviating your stress, may temporarily create a feeling of lowering your stress levels, known as "comfort eating" but will put you on the road to ruin, creating more stress though poor health and low self esteem. It should definitely not be used as a long term solution.

Comfort eating often leads to eating, not just too much from a calories point of view, but eating all the wrong kinds of food to remain healthy. Most of us turn to the sort of foods that give us a temporary sense of feeling good, such as foods which are high in calorific value, foods that are sweet or ones full of bad fats.

The women amongst us tend to be more susceptible to "comfort eating" leading to a vicious circle of feeling good then feeling guilty for consuming what they have then turning again to food as a way of feeling "better" again.

Here are some quick tips to assist you in getting away from the downward spiral of emotional eating:

Listen To Your Body

Try to understand when your body is truly hungry and you are not just eating because you are feeling down.

Understand Why You Do It

Try keeping a diary of what you have just eaten and how you were feeling at the time. Also make a note of what you ate and how this made you feel afterwards. This will help you to recognize the signs of emotional eating and enable you to question your choice BEFORE you go there next time.

Taking Your Mind Off The Craving

Instead of just grabbing a quick bag of crisps or bar of chocolate try going out for a quick walk or talk to a member of your family about how you are feeling at that particular time. You can also try concentrating on something such as listening to your favourite music or reading. This will help to re-focus your mind away from that urge to "grab and eat".

Find Permanent Alternatives

You want to be looking at reducing your levels of stress via more healthy avenues such as taking on regular forms of exercise. This will release certain chemicals which will do the same job but in a much healthier way. Also, laughter is a great stress reliever as it to assists in the release of "good" chemicals from within the body which help combat stress and let off steam.

Be Aware When Eating

Rather than just eating, make the conscious effort to listen to your own body throughout the eating process. Make eating an enjoyable experience whilst eating healthily. Don't just do it habitually but be aware of all the sensations as you go about your daily meals. How do all of it taste, how does it make
you feel.

Clear Out Your Cupboards

Remove temptation by replacing unhealthy "snacky" type foods for a healthier option which will keep you fuller for longer. Most of us live our lives on habits. Once you make a conscious effort to change these old negative habits you will replace them with positive healthy ones which will then be reprogrammed
to your subconscious and you will soon be taking the healthy option without thinking about it.

Hopefully, these measures will go some way towards replacing your comfort eating habits with better stress busting alternatives.

Weight Loss Effectively: Tips to Lose Weight This Christmas

Christmas Day is often noted as period for weight gain, but for you it doesn't have to be. You too can maintain your Christmas weight loss and keep losing weight well into the New Year.

Researchers claim that everyone gains on average one to two pounds during the holiday season - 1 to 2 pounds that are almost impossible to lose, am i right? however by simply incorporating the following tips into your Christmas diet you too can prevent this Christmas weight gain and keep your body healthy, happy and fighting fit.

1. Opt for Turkey - compared to other red meats, turkey is high in protein and low in fat saving you countless calories.

2. Roast all your vegetables - avoid saturating your roast potatoes and vegetables in fat. Instead boil them for 10 minutes to soften them up before lightly drizzling them in low-fat vegetable oil and putting them in the oven.

3. Make your own treats - forget investing in a 2 kilograms tin of Roses that is packed with 10,000 calories and instead make your sweets from scratch. Christmas cakes, Yule logs, trifle... by making the slightest amendments to your ingredients list, you too can produce low-fat and low-calorie versions of each of these puddings.

With your trifle for example, simply swap normal jam and jelly for their sugar-free counterparts and use fruit canned in juice instead of syrup.

4. Make alcohol free punch - drinking just half a bottle of wine can increase your calorie intake by 250 calories, so take the step to swap alcohol for some fruity punch that your entire family can enjoy. Alternatively invest in some non-alcoholic wines.

5. Make your Christmas active - forget sitting in front of the television watching annual re-runs and instead go out for a walk or a bike ride with your family. This will help stop you from snacking on all those naughty chocolates, and will prevent that post-afternoon slump.

Alternatively if it is too cold to go outside, switch off the television and play some games. Charades, Twister... pick something fun, active and enjoyable for the whole family.

6. Swap salted peanuts for unsalted - one of the easiest steps you can take for controlling your Christmas weight loss, is making simple alterations such as swapping salted peanuts for their unsalted counterparts. Salted peanuts are saturated in fats which are bad for your heart, and this is the same for many other Christmas foods.

Simply sit down and make a list of all the foods you'd normally purchased for Christmas. If you discover that they have got a low-fat version, swap them for these lower calorie versions and exclude foods you cannot replace.

7. Buy no biscuits or chocolates - easier said than done, but the reality is you wouldn't normally used it, let alone eat all these chocolates and biscuits. So set yourself a rule: buy one tin or none at all. More often than not someone will buy you a box of chocolates as a present, so let them buy it for you and resist the temptation to buy them yourself.

Remember: One 2 kilograms tin of Roses contains 10,000 calories.

Maintaining your Christmas weight loss doesn't have to be achieved at the sacrifice of your own enjoyment. You too can have a Christmas to remember, simply by making the above modifications to your Christmas diet.

So make the change, and begin planning for your Christmas now. Back

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5301721

Fat Loss Diet - How to Lose Fat Fast

The best way to drop fat is really a mixture of workout at the same time as diet. Exercising will burn calories, and weight loss plan will reduced them. This kind of combination will assistance you not only accomplish your goals but to control and sustain your excess fat. Among the list of most challenging things about trying to eliminate weight is definitely keeping off that fat, but should you physical exercise at the same time as control your healthy eating plan you might be successful.

There are many diets on the market and some of one of the most well-liked ones are the low carb diets. What does low carb mean? It means a eating plan low in carbohydrates. These diets will enable you to eliminate a substantial amount of fat, but when you complete them it can be difficult to preserve your excess weight, and you will find the pounds slipping back.

To be able to avoid this from happening its good to couple your healthy eating plan with an exercise routine. It doesn't have to be an very rigorous 1 just enough to keep you in very good shape and avoid those pounds coming back. It truly is very good to begin your physical exercise regime whilst you are dieting to ensure your success. You possibly can then continue, even after you finish your weight loss plan.

A improved method to weight loss plan is merely to just change your eating habits permanently.

Tips on how to lose far more fat? One of the simplest tactics is to eat even more fiber rich foods. These foods will fill you up and assist your digestive program work nicely. This will result in your not being so hungry. Another excellent thing is that your metabolism will speed up when your digestive method works superior. This is one of several easiest ways to cut down weight.

You could lose fat quick and permanently with no obtaining up at 5am to run on an empty stomach, not having doing exercises 6x/week, with no feeling hungry all the time or cutting your favorite meals permanently.

You only require to follow a steps to lose fat: strength training, healthy nutrition,cardio& water Consumption. This article will give you a simple, efficient fat loss plan so you possibly can get your body fat to dream numbers while still have a life & eat normally.

Increase Your Strength.
Strength training increases cardiovascular fitness, strengthens joints & bones, builds muscle, improves flexibility,... And it also helps fat loss.

Sustain Muscle.
Far more strength is extra muscle. Strength training builds muscle and prevents muscle loss so you don't get skinny fat.

Burn Fat.
Strength training prevents your metabolic rate from going down when dieting. This means even more fat loss.

Eat Healthful.
Eat whole, unprocessed foods 90% of the time. Whole foods come as close as possible to their natural state: not having added sugars, fats, sauces,... Buy raw foods and cook them yourself.

Health proteins.
Necessary to build & maintain muscle so you don't get skinny fat. Protein also satiates and has the highest thermic effect. Eat a whole protein source with each meal: beef, poultry, fish, dairy, whey, etc

Vegetables & Some Fruits.
Fill your stomach, but usually low in calorie. Also high in fiber, water, vitamins & minerals. Eat veggies & fruits with each meal: spinach, broccoli, kale, asparagus, apples, oranges, etc.

Wholesome Fats.
Fat doesn't make you fat, bad nutrition & lack of activity do. Healthy fats assistance fat loss: they satiate and slow down digestion. Eat healthy fats with each meal: fish oil, olive oil, mixed nuts.

Taking In Carbs.
The next thing in your weight loss diet is your carbohydrates. Don't even begin to think that carbohydrates are bad for you. In fact your body requires carbohydrates just as much as water, protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals. Carbohydrates are essential to staying healthy and losing fat or gaining muscle.

You should get your carbohydrates from pastas, cereals, breads, fruits, and vegetables. You want to keep your scale ratio of carbohydrates, protein, and fat to a 50-35-15. Now that we have that down we can talk about our last main nutrient and that is protein. Protein is the building block for your body's growth. You should get your protein from eggs, chicken, peanuts, milk, and other dairy products. It is possible to steak too but only on occasion because your goal is to lose excess weight not gain it.

Taking In Far more Food.
Eating frequently is often a way to assistance boost your body's metabolism. Eating every 2-3 hours is really a way to tell your body that you're giving it energy and that there is no require to store anymore calories as fat. This is why skipping meals is not a sensible method to get rid of excess weight as your body will only store the fat as it waits for you to eat again.

The trick is to permit your body to make use of calories much more effectively by burning them off extra efficiently. This will not only aid with food absorption and digestion but it will also assist you preserve high energy levels throughout the day.

Eating frequently will also make you feel full and assistance keep hunger at bay. If you're not starving come meal time then you will not gorge yourself with food. You'll also snack less on rubbish in between as you will not be hungry and your body will not be demanding food.

Doing Cardio.
Cardiovascular and aerobic activities such as swimming, running, walking, jump rope, and any kind of sport is also very essential to losing fat. You want to do these about 3-4 times a week as well to keep active and healthy. Once you have started eating right and working out then you will definitely start to notice that your bodyweight lose goal is very possible.

Consuming Water.
Water. Thirst can make you think you're hungry. Avoid soda, alcohol and fruit juice. Drink 2 cups water with each meal and sip water during your workout. Drinking clean water will cleanse the process of toxins and remove excess water that's stored. Harmful toxins are produced by certain foods and drinks and are the things that support retain the fat around our stomach.

Drinking plenty of water will assistance flush the system of these toxins leaving you full, energized and allowing your body to lose fat around the stomach.
Well there you have a nice method to start to get rid of fat and keep it off that won't take all of your time.

Fat loss is possible with the right steps tools, Know -how and most Importantly one's own Determination to see it through. You can have highest paid personal trainer by your side, but at the end belonging to the day it truly is up to you to actually commit to losing that fat and keeping it off.

Lose Weight In A Week With Some Quick Tips

Lose weight in a week? Is it even possible? Well actually yes. I mean, it's quite normal for people to lose a pound or two when they are trying to diet or whatever, but is it really possible to lose a significant amount of weight in a week? Read on to find out how to lose weight in a week.
Tip 1
It's definitely possible to lose weight in a week, the only catch is how much. Much of it depends on your body type, how much you weigh to begin with etc, but it should theoretically be possible for an overweight person to lose 5 or 6 lbs in a single week. Bear in mind that sex will come into play though, as men can lose weight faster than women, due to their increased muscle mass which means they can burn calories a little faster. It should still be possible for just about anyone to lose weight in a week though.
Tip 2
Set yourself a realistic goal. If you want to lose 22 lbs in 7 days to get into a dress for a party or whatever, you don't have much chance. I'm sure it could be done, but I'm not sure if you would still be living after! Monitor your weight over the whole time, and set yourself checkpoints along the way - If you want to lose 6lbs for example, you know you have to lose just under a lb a day. Also, doing this will stop any nasty surprises and help you adjust things on the way to hitting your big goal, and gives you more chance to lose weight in a week.
Tip 3
Find an exercise you like and get used to doing it. If you want to lose weight in a week, seriously lose weight, exercise is essential. Now I understand that there may not be an exercise you like, but try and think along the lines of something that you find the lesser evil. In order to lose any real weight inside a week, you'll need to be doing this exercise pretty much every day! Something that's high in activity is going to be best, jogging or cycling, and if you can only bring yourself to walk, you had better plan some long hikes!
Tip 4
Don't keep it a secret. If you admit to a friend or family member that you are trying to lose weight in a week, it's likely they won't believe you are going to do it. What better motivation for proving them wrong? Also do you want to have to face up to them and tell them that you failed? Things like that can be great motivators, and bear in mind, motivation is exactly what you need to get you really working out hard and watching your diet!

How To Get Slim Without Exercise

There are many people out there who would love to know how to get slim without exercise.

Many people believe that it is not possible to lose weight and get slimmer without doing some sort of exercise program. While personally I would always advise that you should do some exercise, because it not only burns lots of calories, it provides countless other health benefits.

However the fact is that there are a lot of people who do not like to exercise. It may be that they simply do not have the time to work out, or they simply hate the thought of having to push themselves day after day.

Regardless of your reasons, you'll be glad to know that it is possible to get slim without exercise, and its all about what you eat and when you eat.

I am not talking about starving yourself, taking diet pills, or the latest miracle diet. I am talking about manipulating your brain to stop those hunger pangs which many people are familiar with.

The first step is a simple one which you will already be aware of. Stop eating foods which contain a lot of sugar, and unhealthy fat. If you keep eating foods that you know are not god for you, this will not work.

The second thing is not to skip meals, this will not help in any shape or form, and your brain at some point during the day will force you to look at high calorie foods, because it thinks that as you have not been getting food, you must be starving and you need to focus on high calorie foods, because you need them. Your willpower will only take you so far, but in the end it is not going to beat something that is naturally hardwired into your brain.

Always eat breakfast, and make sure that you have some healthy foods which are high in protein. Scientific studies have shown that your stomach stays fuller for longer if it has protein in it.

This is how to get slim without exercise;

When you are full, a message is sent to your brain which tells it that you are not hungry. This results in some hormones being released which also tell the brain that there is no need for hunger pangs. However if you have protein in the stomach, a lot more hormones are released when the message goes to your brain, and these hormones stay around for longer, keeping the hunger pangs for longer.

Try eating some toast or cereal for breakfast, and then see how hungry you feel at lunch time. The next day eat some eggs for breakfast, and you will find that when lunchtime comes around you will not feel as hungry and you will eat less.

Another important factor is that to make sure that you get something to eat every 3 or 4 hours.

This does not have to be a full meal, just a small healthy snack or a piece of fruit will be ideal. This way your metabolism senses that you are getting calories on a regular basis, and it will burn them more effectively, because as it is getting food every few hours it doesn't need to store them as an emergency.

If you go too many hours without food, the primitive section of the brain will think that there is a problem, and this is when it starts sending you messages about how nice those high fat and high sugar foods look. Your body will also slow down the burning of calories as it believes there is a shortage of food, and will be more likely to store whatever calories it gets as fat.

So, eat protein at breakfast, eat more frequently, make your meals small, and you will get slim without exercise.

Contrary to what many people are told, it is definitely possible to get slim without exercise. There are a lot of diets available today. Many fall by the wayside because they do not provide the results that they claim.

How to Choose a Healthy Weight Loss Regimen

Define Healthy Weight Loss

Are you looking for a healthy weight loss program that truly works for you? Choosing the right plan is no mean feat. With all the products, plans, and promotions that are out in the market today; it is quite hard to distinguish which ones won't jeopardize your health. What are the key things to remember to make sure that you're choosing a healthy weight loss plan? Here's a quick rundown of the main factors to consider in deciding what comprises a truly healthy weight loss plan.

Stay Away from Single-Item Diets

Most of us have heard of The Grapefruit Diet, The Cabbage Soup Diet, and The Twinkie Diet. Any diet plan that encourages you to eat from only one food source spells trouble. Though these meal plans might help you lose weight during the first few days, they are merely temporary solutions. Single-item diets do not provide the proper nutrition your body needs to function properly, nor do they pass as healthy options. Starvation means depriving your body with essential nutrients, making it an instant recipe for failure. Healthy weight management allows you to eat food that promotes fat loss and lean muscle growth without the need to starve yourself.

Find a Program that Computes your Calorie Intake

Find a healthy diet plan that provides a specific calorie intake that will allow you to lose just the right amount of weight each week. It is recommended to lose no more than 2 pounds a week. This is an achievable goal. By being mindful about your caloric intake, you'll soon see your pounds go down. The key to losing weight the healthy way is a slow and steady approach. There is no such thing as instant. Remember that you've gained weight through time, and you'll have to lose weight through time too. If you religiously follow a healthy weight loss plan that breaks down calories into fat, carbohydrate, and protein; you'll be surprised to know that you can still eat food while losing weight.

Consider Portion Management and Water Intake

Portion control plays a key role in any weight management. A truly healthy diet plan makes you feel hungry before each meal. It also teaches your body to distinguish between being hungry and being full. In addition, drinking lots of water is recommended as it helps induce satiety during meals and promote hydration. These are all essential in healthy weight loss. Water is also vital in detoxification which helps eliminate water weight gain.

Time to Get Active, Slowly but Surely

A healthy weight loss plan provides a good balance of healthy diet and exercise program. Start engaging in a physical activity for 20 minutes at least thrice a week to enhance your metabolism and support your healthy weight loss goals. Keep it simple at first and just put all your energy in gradually increasing your heart rate as you progress overtime. To achieve your ideal weight, choose a healthy regimen that you can easily stick to until you reach your desired weight.

Be mindful of all these characteristics when choosing a healthy weight loss plan. Always remember to value proper nutrition above all else, and weight loss should naturally follow.

The Best Kept Secret Of Fast Weight Loss by: C Rodney Akomas

The best kept secret of fast weight loss depends on how at risk you are at achieving it. What are your food and workout habits. What kind of a lifestyle do you copy? I'm not trying to be Mr know it all but the best kept secret of fast weight loss all depend on these factors at large. You may think that you now know the best kept secret of fast weight loss, but keep on reading.

With large scale obesity on the rise and so many deaths a year attributed to it, now is the time to get really serious about your health and physical condition. Where so ever you are on the Body Mass Index scale, whether you need to lose eight pounds so you'll look hot at a party in two months, or fourty pounds for health reasons. You cannot keep putting off these health issues any longer, more importantly when it concerns the best kept secret of fast weight loss. Dont think i am revealing the best kept secret of fast weight loss just yet. Be patient and keep your mind open.

The truth about the best kept secret of fast weight loss is that it is difficult to pinpoint. The body needs the right amount of carbohydrates, protein, and fat to function at its best. If you remove any these important gadgets out of the equation you will have a hard time keeping up your energy which involves carbohydrates, or keeping your thought processes, which involves fats, or building muscle, which requires protein. Now are we getting closer to the best kept secret of fast weight loss? Not yet. Please read on.

Your body has dashboard signs that protect us from doing ourselves any harm. Lets say you put you put your hand in a fire, a signal is sent to the brain that you are burning your fingers. If your about to get in a bad situation but don't know it, signals start going off in your brain telling you that this is a not a good idea. Also when you are on a low calorific diet your body thinks that you are starving and slows down your metabolism . Your body will then store everything that you eat and start using your muscle for energy. It goes into a crisis situation not knowing how long it will be till its fed again. This can been see as a safety measure. Could this be the best kept secret of fast weight loss? Getting warm, is all i can say. I am not going to reveal the best kept secret of fast weight loss in a flash.

Your diet does not have to be rocket science. A little preparation and support from your friends and family will add much to helping you achieve your goals. You also need a well prepared and thought out program. One that has been proven and tested. One that will help you build a meal plan in and around food you like to eat . A simple plan that will show you the ins and outs of how to obtain the best kept secret of fast weight loss. Could this be the best kept secret of fast weight loss?

You also need to reward yourself when you reach your goals. You need to constantly visualize how good your going to look and feel at that party, or on holiday, or just cutting the grass in the garden in your shorts. Visualizing yourself in those situations will motivate you to keep on going to achieve your goal. Now this is something you should never slack at. You should make it a life long habit. This is the best kept secret of fast weight loss. I bet you did not expect that to be the best kept secret of fast weight loss did you?


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Warning over weight-loss drug

The pharmaceutical watchdog has warned doctors about the dangers of prescribing a popular epilepsy drug for weight loss.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration issued the alert after receiving a report of a patient who was rushed to hospital with a serious eye condition after being prescribed the anticonvulsant topiramate.
The patient, who was taking the drug to lose weight, suffered acute closed-angle glaucoma, a well-known and serious side effect of topiramate.
In Australia, topiramate is only approved to treat epilepsy and to prevent migraines.
A TGA spokeswoman said there was no way of determining how many doctors were prescribing the drug for weight loss.
At this stage, the TGA has only received one report of improper use.
''The purpose of the safety advisory was to warn health professionals and consumers that are using, or may be considering using topiramate for weight loss, that the TGA has not approved its use for this indication, and that its use for this indication is associated with serious adverse events.''
The drug has been linked to eye and kidney problems, as well as birth defects.
Australian Medical Association president Steve Hambleton said he was unaware of any other cases were a doctor had prescribed the anticonvulsant for weight loss.
He said the safety advisory was a stark reminder of the dangers of improper drug use.

Are You Ready For Compliments on Your Lose Weight Week Plan? by Joe Maldonado

in Health    (submitted 2011-10-03)

Copyright (c) 2011 Joe Maldonado

Do you wish to plan for a lose weight week? If yes, then you should consider calorie shifting diet to burn those extra calories and fat in your body. You would be happy to know that people from around the world have tried and admired this way to lose weight. This technique involves manipulating the calorie intake towards a positive level and also concentrates on improving metabolism of your body. We all know that a body with a good metabolism structure burns fat more efficiently as compared to others. Best part of this diet is that you need not decrease amount of food you consume while following your regime on lose weight week.

The basics of calorie shifting diet maintains that you can eat as much as you want from any food group but you need to keep the calorie count in the limit required for weightloss. This diet is designed specifically keeping your body mass index (BMI) in consideration so that it specifically caters to your body requirements. Make sure that the diet chart you follow should be prepared keeping in mind your individual requirements and eating habits. Most of the people like this as it do not involve starving or fasting for hours. Still you can expect to lose anywhere from three to five pounds in a week.

If alone calorie diet doesn't affect you much, then you can consider the following ideas that can help you further achieve your goals:

Try to eat small meals five times a day, as it would help you improve your metabolism and also keep your stomach full all times in a day. This would help to restrict yourself from overeating during your meals which often leads to obesity.

You should chew your food properly and eat slowly. This is important as it takes some time for our brain to realize when stomach is full. In most of the cases, people try to finish their food quickly and end up eating more than what is required. You can try this yourself by eating slowly one day and be surprised to know that you have eaten a lot less than you usually do.

Regular exercises are a must for every individual who plans to shed some weight from his or her body. Try to make your exercises a fun activity that you do on a daily basis. Even a brisk walk in the morning or a small workout at home should suffice.

Drink a glass of water before your meal as it would help to keep your stomach ready for digestion process. You may also drink water when you get up in the morning and when you go for sleep at night. This would make sure that your body fluids are not depleted at any instance of time.

Most important of all is that you must keep a positive approach towards your lose weight week regime. Unlike others, make sure that you follow these ideas in a daily routine and keep a check on your calorie intake.

Compliments! Yes, you heard right. Compliments are the best motivators when we talk of losing weight.